Edmund and Phoebe Drake

1. EDMUND DRAKE was born as early as 1754, and died about 1799 in Laurens District, South Carolina. He married
in South Carolina, between 1774 and 1784, PHOEBE, who was born before 1764, and died in 1817 or 1818, in Laurens District.

The first record found of Edmund Drake in South Carolina is as witness to this land purchase. Sometime between 16 Sep 1786 and 5 Apr 1787, Thos. Edghill Jr. attorney for Thomas Edgehill Sr. to Thos McDonald, Pl., for L 25, 150 acres on Little River, original grant to said Thos Edghill, May 17, 1774. Other witnesses were Hugh O'Neal and Patience O'Neal.

He lived on Little River, Ninety Six District as early as 25 May 1789. His land bordered this land surveyed for John Raney, a Plat for 199 acres on Little River, Simins Creek, Ninety Six District, surveyed by William Hunter, land also bordered by Thomas Wadsworth, Thomas Edgehill, Joseph Blackabay, Galanes Winds, Mrs. Handcock.

His household was enumerated in the 1790 census, Ninety Six District, Laurens County, South Carolina, one free white male 16 and over [Edmund], two free white males under 16 [probably sons John and Benjamin], one free white female [wife Phebe] and one slave.

On 8 September 1795, Edmund Drake, planter, signed an indenture to purchase land, "a plantation or tract of land containing one hundred and twenty acres more or less, situate in the County of Laurens" from Thomas Wadsworth and William Turpin.

He died about 1799 without leaving a will. On 3 May 1802 his son, Benjamin Drake, made application in Laurens County to administer the estate. His widow, Phoebe, kept possession of the one hundred and twenty acres of land and raised her younger children there. The other son, John, continued to live on part of the land with his mother and, "with his labor supported and maintained his mother until six months before her death which took place sometime in the year 1817 or eighteen hundred eighteen." Six months before her death, she moved in with her son Benjamin, who also had remained on part of the family land.

In 1817, Benjamin Drake died, leaving six children and a widow, Sarah, who then married John Smith. John Drake purchased his sister Celia's interest from her and her husband James Holdridge. Sarah, the other sister who had married Thomas Dalrymple, died, leaving six children.

In 1820, John and Sarah Smith, in the name of Benjamin Drake's children Langdon, Lucinda, Rebecca, John, Rachel, and
Franklin Drake, brought a suit against James Holdridge and Celia, John Drake, Thomas Dalrymple and his children Edmund, George, Celia, Phebe Ann, John and Sally for Benjamin Drake's share of the estate.

Children of Edmund Drake and Phoebe:

Benjamin Drake, b. between 1774 and 1784 in probably Laurens County; d. before 1820; m. Sarah before 1800; six children were Rebecca, John, Rachel, Josiah, Franklin and Langdon

John Drake, b. before 1790

Seliah Ann Drake2, b. between 1790 and 1797 in Laurens County; d. before 1830 in South Carolina or Georgia; m. James Holdridge in Laurens County, before 1810; three sons were Edmond D., William Henry Milton, and John H.

Sarah Drake, b. between 1790 and 1800 in Laurens County, SC; d. before 1820; m. Thomas Dalrymple; six children born between 1810 and 1820, John, Edmund, Celia, Phebe, Sally and George.